Our Patience Finally Paid Off – The Eglinton Crosstown is Here!

After years of waiting, anticipating, and enduring the construction chaos, the storied Eglinton Crosstown is set to arrive on Sunday, February 8th.

We have planned and waited for this moment for a long time. Going back years, to when the Mike Harris government infamously buried an already dug hole for the original subway project, to now, it has truly been a journey. I would venture to say that, despite the delays, we are all just happy that it’s finally opening. This line is going to be a transformative part of the TTC’s network, spanning 19 kilometres right across midtown Toronto.

A New Era for Midtown Transit

Yes, we did use LRTs versus other forms like full heavy-rail subways or mid-range automated vehicles. Regardless, the debate is over and the work is done. Now comes the hard part: fixing, adjusting, and getting an entire city ready for something completely new.

Officially Line 5 is free today, Sunday February 8, so if you are around Eglinton, definitely check it out. It connects Mount Dennis in the west to Kennedy in the east with 25 stations, significantly cutting down travel time compared to the old bus routes.

Ramping Up for the Future

They are using coupled vehicles at the moment to manage the flow. However, I am gathering that within a few years, as ridership grows, they will likely need to expand to three-car trains, and it may even hit capacity sooner than predicted.

Only time will tell how the phased opening plays out, but let’s just celebrate the win for now. It’s been 15 years in long waiting, but the crosstown era has officially begun.

Watch the Live Stream from OpinionGuru here – 1st Eglinton Crosstown Line 5 Ride